Swift, Getz in new avatar

Darlington Jose Hector, TNNJun 19, 2006, 11.42am IST

BANGALORE: There are two more diesel variants waiting to roll down the automobile aisle. And this time in the compact car segment. Maruti Udyog (MUL) and Hyundai Motors India (HMIL) are moving fast with their plan to introduce diesel versions of Swift and Getz respectively.

Diesel fitted compact cars would have been a definite no-no just a few years ago. MUL had tried a diesel version of the Zen, but it never really took off. But now the concept has started to gain acceptance.

Diesel cars today constitute 35 per cent of the total number of cars sold in India , a statistic akin to that in Europe where 40% of the cars sold are fitted with diesel motors. Diesel is a viable alternative for those who clock a high annual mileage. Further, consumer appreciation of cleaner and efficient powertrains is creating a new paradigm as well.

International automobile research has shown that new age diesel engines are 40% more efficient and have 50% lower carbon dioxide emissions. Today's diesel engine do not also have the stigma of lower life periods.

Hyundai Motor has the common rail direct injection (CRDi) technology, Ford has its turbo direct common rail injection , and Mercedes Benz its own highly evolved direct injection methodology . Says Arvind Mathew, president and managing director, Ford India: "The demand for diesel has been fairly steady over the last couple of years. And it can only go up."

The diesel car numbers have been growing at around 6-9 % over the last couple of years, according to trade estimates. Cars such as the Ford Fiesta , Skoda Octavia TDCi, Hyundai Accent CRDi have found wide acceptance in a market which has always equated diesel cars with taxis.

No wonder India's biggest carmaker Maruti is hurrying up to complete its diesel plant in Gurgaon . Setting up this plant at an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore is seen to be an acknowledgement that the Indian diesel market is becoming crucial to its interest.

Analysts believe that once Maruti swings into the diesel mart, many of the other manufacturers would be forced to follow suit. Companies like Toyota, General Motors and Honda that have bet big on the gasoline models have done exceedingly well, but not having a diesel wheel in popular segments could worry them in future.